Abstract
Glass-ceramics of the systems xCuO-(70 - x) MnO-30SiO(2) (mol%) (x = 10, 15, 20, 25, and 35) were successfully prepared. XRD analysis revealed the crystallization of monoclinic crednerite CuMnO2 as major phase. The crystallization of crednerite phase enhanced with incremental x value. Scanning electron microscope showed columnar particles of crednerite when x <= 20 while layered shapes appeared when x = 25. Needles and rod shape appeared when x = 35. The variations in dc-conductivity with the reciprocal temperature were studied for the prepared glass-ceramic samples. The transport in such glass-ceramic systems was due to small polaron hopping (SPH) between Cu-ions. The samples show semiconductor behavior which is desired for many applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.